Horsham, Larkfield ... and Montreuil!

A good clutch of Waddies and Waddettes ventured over to Horsham on 11th May for the Horsham 10k Sussex Grand Prix Race. If its not one thing with Horsham, its another. In 2006 the race was run in a deluge, the bridleway section was pretty well fooded and Melinda fell and hurt her ankle. In 2008 there was a haetwave and the major problem seemed to be thirst. There were water stations at 1km, 5 km and at the Finish, but the Runners World Ratings contributors were saying there should have been more. Most 10ks of course only have one water station at midway with more at the finish.

Ciaran led the team home and prizes were won by Lyn Hayes (1stW45 and Helen Neary (1st W55). Eddie Wattenbach scored a notable 10k pb and for a few it was a debut race. The results:

Place Time Name

8 36:48 Ciaran Osborn
77 43:22 Eddie Wattenbach
80 43:41 Peter Burfoot
118 46:12 Lyn Hayes
166 48:19 Albert Kemp
175 48:40 Tim Clements
202 50:10 Cathy Hall
209 50:22 John Billingham
213 50:26 Tony Gates
238 52:00 Fergus Randolph
251 53:08 Helen Neary
297 55:55 Bonita Backhouse
303 56:16 David Jones
346 59:28 Kathy Gates
405 1:05:54 Helen Smith
416 1:11:22 Sara Wrenn

On 18th May Martin led a Team of Burkes to the annual Ramparts Race in Montreuil sur Mer, close to Le Touquet. Liam and Siobhan excelled, both collecting trophies for their efforts. In torrential rain this multi terrain course provided a real challenge with grass, tarmac, trail, cobbles, hills, a tunnel and some very steep climbs up the ramparts of this pretty French town. Liam successfully defended his crown in his children's age group and collected another trophy as well as a traditional from Monsieur Mayor; Siobhan, competing in her first 10K won the Junior Ladies trophy. Oscar Smith swept the board in his age group in the Mini Race whilst his mum, Helen, scored a pb. The results of the 10K were:

1.02.59 Helen Smith
1.03.00 Siobhan Burke
1.04.21 Martin Burke

Meanwhile, Cathy Burke flew the Hastings AC flag at Larkfield in 56:06, where she was joined by some Waddies and a sole Waddette in the Larkfield 10k. This was an interesting race of contrasts centred on the Leybourne Lakes, but starting and finishing in an industrial estate. It was cool and sunny with a moderate northerly breeze, predominately flat with some inclines at the start and finish, road bridges to climb in the centre section and footpath sections around the Lakes. The sting in the tail was in the last 400m when a narrow tarmac path raered up a steep bank so all the runners were still trying to get their breath back before sprinting to the line.

The results were:

95 44:40 Peter Burfoot
181 50:03 Tony Gates
220 52:34 David Jones
253 55:37 Kathie Gates